Official 22 velocity speed and set up thread.

[dnelson964]

In my case, after reducing bow weight I was looking to achieve better overall boat balance to help lose some hopping. To that end I reduced as much stern weight as I could and then even reduced set back and that combination did the trick. However, while the tabs were on I noticed speed lose when trying them a few times. They were big and did have a powerful effect on the boats trim if you wanted. But I never saw a real need or advantage for keeping them since when the motor was trimmed properly I never had a problem even in rougher waters so they stayed in 'up' position always.

My goal was to find a better, lighter way to improve hole shot and slow speed plane and that I found with the Allison drag skid planer. I also liked the fact it had to be stronger attaching it to the jack plate as opposed to fitting a planer on a lower unit. If you are hopping over some big waves ever I would rather less force on my lower unit then more on re-entry also.

You mount it either inside or outside the sides of the jack plate depending on what width plate you are dealing with.

Allison folk are pretty ingenious !

[BigJohnson]

How many guys are running trim tabs?If you are are you actually using them?I have them and i always have them up.I wonder if haveing them on even with them up scrubs speed at all.How many have taken theres off and did u see a difference?

I need to get a motor for one tab. Haven't tried them yet. Would like to. Maybe it will help the dead calm water porpoise.

[BigJohnson]

That "txp" runs very stiff.....more like a 28-29 at the tips. The longer hub helps you 'ski' off it as I was told. Prop was designed by Mark Croxton when he worked at Turbo Propellers. You might have a hard time finding another prop to beat that txp. Another great prop might be a Yamaha T1 which is similar but should have a little more stern lift. I know many haven't heard of or want to try these less popular Props but they have good handling and are FAST. JMO.

I took off 280 K-planes because I found I never used them and lost like 130lbs of stern weight. Boat runs better and faster I think without them. I later added an Allison drag plate off the jack plate and have it about 6" above the pad. Allison recommends 3" above pad for Drag hole shot but I run rougher waters so I went higher. It is about 14" long X 17" wide. It helps hole shot and I can stay on plane now down to around 15 mph and only adds about 5 lbs. of Aluminum weight. Plate never hits any water while up running.

Saw a drag plate on Gm250's Progression. Never saw one. Looks good. He said the same. Stays on plane very slow.

[mikeylarge]

The added 120 from the tabs didnt hurt me, ill be well into the 90s soon enuff...

[aaronmt73]

One thing ive also thought about if removing some stern weight such as the tabs would help on the calm water porpoise.It seem the 94 and up hulls tend to porpoise a bit from 30-45 ish.Steve stepp says theres no hook buolt into my hull and its a 98,so im not sure.

[dnelson964]

One thing ive also thought about if removing some stern weight such as the tabs would help on the calm water porpoise.It seem the 94 and up hulls tend to porpoise a bit from 30-45 ish.Steve stepp says theres no hook buolt into my hull and its a 98,so im not sure.

I have talked with many performance boat owners and read many comments by others that leads me to realize that calm water porpoise at certain speeds is very common on boats mainly with added set back. Possibly also check for a slight 'rocker' area somewhere on your bottom 12"-20" forward of the stern that might have set in over time and could contribute. Once you reach a fast enough speed and have enough HP to carry your boat far enough back on the pad is when that will go away. (As I understand it).

Changing weight balance forward and/ or even using a different prop can help change it. But if it is slight I would not worry to much about it.

[dnelson964]

The added 120 from the tabs didnt hurt me, ill be well into the 90s soon enuff...

Mikey...Do I smell a 300 coming aboard soon? You have done awesome with that 225 !

[mikeylarge]

Mikey...Do I smell a 300 coming aboard soon? You have done awesome with that 225 !

Quite possibly, which reminds me I have to make a post in the engine classifieds..... The 30" k planes make a huge difference in any ruff/windy situation you can possibly throw at them under 70 mph. Tuck them all the way up and they never even touch the water. over 70 when the boat is up and riding high, the tabs act as a hydrafoil and will still tuck the nose when running into a real strong head wind, set the tabs even with the surface of the water and they make re-entry smoothe as glass, and also keeps the boat lading perfectly level (side to side). When you are going through those annoying 5 mph zones I can bury the tabs and cruise through at almost 3000 rpm and nobody even notices im going 3-4x the speed limit. Just remember removing tabs will lighten up 120 lbs of the boat, yes you might go a touch faster in the smoothe water, but overall speed is measured by how fast you can consistantly travel, not how fast you can go under perfect conditions.

[dnelson964]

I hear you on all counts Mike. But I practically never boat in smooth or perfect conditions running mainly on the L.I. North shore, over to Connecticut and the Peconic bay out to Montauk. I think a calm day is like 1' average and normal is 1'-2'+.

After having had the Mercury 280 tabs and now a Drag plate along with reduced set-back helping better boat balance, I can say my Activator goes thru everything better, faster or slower, rough, windy, or both, with better control and balance with the help of the Drag Plate. Oh, and the pleasure of no buttons to even worry about pushing. I also now run 'flatter', like I'm on 'rails' which gives me higher speeds along with better stability and visibility in the rough. The boat excels in rougher,windier days eating it up and craving more of it now. It's like I've finally created a MONSTER.

As far as 5 mph zones go....if I push it to 15-20 (3-4X the limit) I guess I could not sneak thru as easily as you because I would already be up on plane.

Now other boats may run better set up differently of course. It just boil down to what you are looking to achieve and I can only relay my own personal experience.

[mikeylarge]

280s dont work as welll because they are too short...... They never touch the water unless you bury them, which causes a severe amount of drag

[dnelson964]

280s dont work as welll because they are too short...... They never touch the water unless you bury them, which causes a severe amount of drag

The 280 tabs were 18" long and my Activator 22 is actually only 21'1" so they were long enough. I can definitely see the benefit of Tabs on longer and heavier boats but I feel they were over kill on mine.

But with your added handling advantage I guess you will now be coming with us to cross LI sound for the Conn. River run 2012 ? It's a Blast of a day !

[gm250]

Mike you need to cross over with us put the tabs to use

[mikeylarge]

The 280 tabs were 18" long and my Activator 22 is actually only 21'1" so they were long enough. I can definitely see the benefit of Tabs on longer and heavier boats but I feel they were over kill on mine.

But with your added handling advantage I guess you will now be coming with us to cross LI sound for the Conn. River run 2012 ? It's a Blast of a day !

No they weren't...... measure how high the outer chine is when from teh surface of the water while you are running your boat, then figure out the angle at which the boat runs.... add in teh 18" of tabs and you will realize that they are not long enough... hard to explain but I could show you in person

[dnelson964]

No they weren't...... measure how high the outer chine is when from teh surface of the water while you are running your boat, then figure out the angle at which the boat runs.... add in teh 18" of tabs and you will realize that they are not long enough... hard to explain but I could show you in person

I am getting a picture in my mind about what you are describing. I do understand that the location on the transom where the tabs are mounted will have an impact as to when they will hit water. What you intend to use the tabs for (just slow speed planing off or high speed stability in rough waters) could play a roll also in the spot best to mount the tabs. But since I have never found a real need to use any trim tabs and I am only interested in pleasure boating, I see no need to get more involved then best balancing my boat for light to moderate weather and wave heights. If you found a need for them maybe you could put up a picture of your present tabs with explanation so we can all follow and learn more what, where, when, and why you are benefiting from them.

Sounds like a good topic for further dissection/discussion.

[aaronmt73]

My tabs are small,they are the bennett sport tabs i believe there around 12x9 .I think im gonna remove them and look for a hook or rocker in the bottom.Its not that bad of a porpoise,more so annoying.Maybe the weight loss will alleviate a bit of it.Although I imagine mine probably wileigh half as much as the k-planes do.I will be looking into the drag plate as well.What allison was your made for dnelson?